Railroad-tie.



.'s12', 991 PATENTED FEB. 20, 1906. s m. GRIFFITH.

RAILROAD TIE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 14, 1904.

Mfm$$@s; 23 a (1% $237019 MZW m Urrn STATES earner pr on.

RAILRQAIDTBE.

Specification of Letters IPatent.

Patented Feb. 20, 1906.

Application filed May 14,1904. Serial No. 207,918.

To all whdm/ it vnay concern.-

Be it known that I, SAMUEL GRIFFITH, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Chicago, Cook county, Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Railroad-Ties, of which the folowing is a specification.

My invention contemplates an improved railroad-tie of such character that, although it contains, say, only about one-third as much lumber or-other suitable material as the ordinary tieim'ay, nevertheless, be readily and satisfactorily substituted for the wood tie, and whereby it presents many other advantages over ordinary ties and over metallic ties as heretofore constructed, as will hereinafter more'fully appear. i 1

In the accom anying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective 0 a short section of railroadtrack g equi ped with ties embodying the principleo" my invention. Fig. 2 is a pers ective of'one of'my improved railroadties. ig. 3. shows one of the metallic bands which may be employed for holding the blocks of 2-5 wood in lace. Fig. 4 is a perspective of one of the said blocks of wood. Fig. 5 is a 'cross section through one end portion ofthe' tie shown in Fig. 2. compound or built-up block of wood.

As thus illustrated, my invention com rises a trough A, of any suitable material, ut preferablyof etal, provided with a bottom B and with upturned sides or flanges O and D. Preferably this trough is provided 3 5 in its bottom with apertures whereby it may drain itself clear of Water. Also, as will be observed, the said sides or flanges of the trough are provided near the ends of the trough with enlargements or vertical exten- 40 sions F and G H. The blocks of Wood 6 and], as illustrated, are preferably inclosed by the metal bands g and h and are seated between the'ears or as shown more clear yin Fi s. 2 and 5. Any suitable means can be emp oyed for holding the said blocks in place-as, 'for example, bolts a, b, c, and (I, inserted through registering openings formed in the trough and the blocks and also in the bands, may be employed for this purpose. It will be seen that Fig. 6 is a perspective of a rojections E F and G H,-

the said blocks of wood or other suitable material are located in position to serve as seats for the rail and are preferably of a length to suitably and effectively receive the s ikes ordinarily employed in fastening rai s to Wood ties. If desired, the blocks of wood can be composed of superimposed pieces of A Wood f, as shown in. Fig. 6, the different layers being tightly bound together by bands or hoopslc and l.

From the foregoing it is obvious that I revide a simple and efiicient railroad-tie w 'ch involves but little timber, but which is strong and durable'and Well adapted to stand the strains imposed upon it and-which presents many advantages over railroad-ties as heretofore constructed, as it is adapted to have therails spiked down upon it in the ordinary manner and is of a character to be'economically and cheaply manuiactured-that is to say, as compared with other. metallic and like ties'and is, furthermore, of such nature as to. be readily and easily repaired in case of breaka e or impairment brought about by use an exposure to the Weather.

What I claim as my invention is' 1. A railroad-tie comprising a metallic trough, and a pair of metal-bound blocks seated in said trough and adapted to receive the spikes employed in securing the rails in place, each block and its metal binding being removable as a'unit from the balance, of the structure. I p

2. A railroad-tie comprising a longitudinal member, and metal-bound blocks secured to the opposite end portions of'the said meIn-' her, said blocks being adapted to'receive the spikes employed in securing the rails inplace, each block and its metal binding bein removable as a unit from the balance 0 the structure.

3. A railroad-tie comprising a metal trough, metal-bound blocks of wood seated in the 0pposite end ortions of said trough and bolts extending t ough the trough and blocks to hold the latter in placeyeach block and its metal binding being removable as a unit from the balance of the structure.

4. Arailroad-tie comprising ametal trough, metal bands seated in said trough, blocks of ce woodinclosed bysaidbands,saidblocksbeing the ears, and bolts extending throu h the in a position to receive the rails, and bolts ears and blocks to hold thelatter in p ace. I0 extending through the trough, bands and Signed by me at Chicago, Cook county,

blocks, to hold the latter in place. Illinois, this 3d day of May, 1904.

5. Arailroaol-tie comprisingametaltrou h I SAML N. GRIFFITH. having its sides provided with ears, bloc Witnesses: seated in-the trough between said ears, said 'SEvERINUs B. CHABOWSKI,

blocks extending a suitable distance above WM. A. HARDERs. 

